ANGARA BATS FOR MORE BUDGET FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

Reelectionist Senator Edgardo J. Angara (LDP) today declared that re-aligning and employing the countrys extra revenues will help build infrastructure and create jobs in the rural areas.

Many people like the fishermen and farmers live in the countryside; hence, we have to build the farm-to-market roads, provide driers for their palay and copra, and give help in typhoon seasons when they cannot do their work.

In other words, we direct our funds to the rural sector where poor people live. Otherwise, we will remain poor. Worse, we will get even poorer, said Angara speaking before college students at the Junior Social Sciences Conference of the Philippines held in University of the Philippines recently.

Angara noted that a countys growth and development depends largely on ones culture arts and sciences, even politics.

Our people are our best resource. If we harness our peoples natural creativity and resourcefulness, we can be sure that our country will not remain perpetually poor and Filipinos can look forward to better days.

For instance, by encouraging our own people to visit the different farming communities, say, coconut plantation or banana plantation, we also help promote the development of our rural communities. That is the best way to develop these areas, and at the same time, encourage our farmers to stay in the farm, Angara said.

However, Angara also said that economy will grow more if people are strengthened by trust, and more importantly, honest governance.

There is a linear relationship between corruption and development. In our country, corruption has robbed our people precious little resources that could have otherwise funded schools, clinics, and roads.

As in many other endeavors, however, political leadership spells the difference. The performance and attitude of government determines whether the efforts to combat corruption will succeed or not, continued Angara . Angara is the chair of South East Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC).